SilverSport Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 experiments in sound... ...things I do when I have the rare too much time on my hands... ...does anyone know why oh why speakers that are revered sound lessthan thrilling to me and others sound well beyond the sum of theirparts to me???Experiment: How do speakers from Klipsch compare to each other???Equipment: Power: Tube EICO HF 81 Integrated amplifier, Solid StateMcIntosh MA6200 integrated amplifier both in updated/refreshened"stock" configuration. Transport: Cambridge Audio Azur 640C v1, Toshiba SD-3950 Interconnects: Nothing outstanding for you audiophiles but not garbage Speakers: Klipsch Quartets, Klipsch RB-5s, Klipsch kg1s(Quartets with new Crites XOvers, RB-5s not abused but nearly 8 yearsold, kg1s as new)I listened to several selections and this is still a work in progress but some early observations:kg1s...by FAR the smallest of the three but very bigsound...they lack in bass but they sound sonically like Klipsch and tothis more Heritage trained ear...very Heritage like...I really enjoythese...through Tubes or SS very nice and smooth...lacking in basscompared to the others but duh...RB-5s...especially compared to the kg1s...LOTSA bass anda nice sounding speaker...a few years ago when I compared these to myHeresys I was taken aback by how these had bass well over the Heresy atabout a half the size...the only time I found these lacking was indirect comparison to the Heresy at that time and I thought it might bethe 2 way to 3 way thing...plus I am more accustomed toHeritage...comparing them now, I found myself preferring the kg1s forup top and they don't stand up to the Quartet but then the Quartet isquite a bit bigger than the Reference RB-5 and is a bit more efficient(90dB-96dB-97.5dB for the kg1-RB-5-Quartet)...nice but I am not blownaway...I thought they sounded better with the McIntosh than the EICObut the lil EICO that could (14wpc VS 75wpc) puts out a bit more basswhen all are set to flat...Quartets...these put out some BIG sound...and somethingmore like what I am used to...(I have Klipschorns too)...bigbass...nice mids and crisp highs (better than they were...thanks BobCrites!)...I like the sound better hooked to Tubes but nice with SS aswell...SO......what is the deal here???...why would I like the sound of thediminutive kgs more than the same tunes through both Tube and SS powerthan the RB-5s...nothing wrong with the RB-5s as far as I can tellbut...I also realize that someone can't tell me how speakers shouldsound and these RB-5s are VERY well thought of but I seem to preferkgs, Heresys, Quartets to the Reference sound...I want to love thesespeakers but listening to them they seem to play thrid, fourth, fifthfiddle to the others...any ideas or suggestions???...Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 You're spoiled !!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Mac, VRD's, JMA.............yeah, spoiled!!!!![] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted June 29, 2008 Author Share Posted June 29, 2008 well you guys are a lotta help...[] Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbsl Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 What they said![] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted June 29, 2008 Share Posted June 29, 2008 Bill, Thanks for the review. not bad for a slow day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted June 29, 2008 Author Share Posted June 29, 2008 still really enjoying that EICO Daddy Dee...perhaps I am spoiled...if so I have all of you to thank for it...4 years ago I had one receiver, one pair of speakers, a turntable, cassette deck and a CD player...then I found this place...[] Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 Sorta' like me, "I never knew my stereo sucked, until I joined this Forum" ............ EH !!!!!! ... I've got a question you can answer, What gets better gas mileage, The Corvette, or the GTO ? ........... I owned KG4's for over 20 years, loved them, defended them, but then I got the Heresy's, and after an adjustment period, became to like the heresy's better, then foolish me, I bought Cornwalls, and Sold my KG4's because after those other speakers, I could never go back to the KG4's .......... mind you, I was or am not sorry I owned those KG4's, but ................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colterphoto1 Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 ...good stuff.. something we all need to do once in a while. My first good go at this I was surprised at my preference for KSB1.1 over many other Klipsch speakers (in a volume balanced comparison). Try it guys- you might get some surprises! Hey, I wore my Klipsch SanFran Tshirt to a meeting the other day and THREE people came up to me to talk about Klipsch! How cool is that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 I have several different amps , integrate, etc I keep coming back to my lowly Sansui AU 7900 ($150) and my BC re-capped Heresy II's that I have in my office.....For low to mid level listening in a small room it's really sweet !!!! I've had a few diff Mcintosh setups in my day.....I have the giant killer Sansui AU-111 out at service and a deal brewing for some vrds (that I am familiar with through my Klipschorns w/ ALK networks) do I love my other gear ? hell yeah! but there's something about that cheep amp and small speakers that just very very sweet to me???? I can't figure it out either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted June 30, 2008 Author Share Posted June 30, 2008 OB...the C5 gets about 17-18 in mostly city driving...the GTO only 14... Michael...I bought a pair of the KSB 1.1s for the garage on your recommendation...sound nice powered by a MAC1900 right now... Fenderbender...I think one reason I like some of the stuff I have is the added tip in of the very low price I paid for them...something about getting something for so little that pays such large dividends...sweeeeeeeet! Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 ...something about getting something for so little that pays such large dividends...sweeeeeeeet!I agree. The guy that brags about how much his gear is worth can go scratch.........Klipsch= high end sound without the high end price [Y] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted June 30, 2008 Share Posted June 30, 2008 I truly believe people fall victim to there own vanity.....it cost ten times as much so It sounds ten times better to me Ecce homo ergo Elk...LaFontain knew his sister and he knew her bloody well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted July 2, 2008 Author Share Posted July 2, 2008 true...some do but I would feel better about having a $100 pair of speakers that shine over a $900 pair that sounds lacking...if nothing more than to my ear...I was hoping to get some feedback from the RB-5 and similar speaker owners that might shed some light on what I might be doing wrong if anything, missing, etcetera...I listened to them a bit more this morning and they sound really nice...just whenever I get the idea that I need to sell soem of this stuff off {]...the RB-5s are usually the first I think of to put on the block... ...I wouldn't have them now 'cept my Sis wanted them but closingin on 2 years since we decided this and everytime I ask she tells me she wants them but no room at the inn presently... Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 she wants them but no room at the inn presently... Storage Fee time !!!! ...... When I got the Cornwalls, I did what I said I would never do, I sold my KG4's. It became apparent to me, that after the H2's, and Cornwalls, the KG4's just wouldn't fill the bill anymore .... Spoiled, I am ... so sell them to someone who is just starting the endless walk of audio. I got over 20 years of great service from them, they still looked new. I guess point being, something had to go, so the 2 ways found a new home ...... sorta' like what you are thinking, if you have to sell something might as well be RB-5's, for many reasons ............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSport Posted July 2, 2008 Author Share Posted July 2, 2008 I seem to be going kicking and screaming to that very same conclusion OB...[] Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H. Posted July 2, 2008 Share Posted July 2, 2008 You have come to the same conclusion I have...................Your a Heritage Man.............................:>). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.